One piece self-aligning, self-lubricating catheter valve

Abstract

An elastomeric valve partition is conventionally mounted on a catheter comprising a tubular catheter body. The valve partition defines a central aperture extending inwardly from one of the faces, only partway through the valve partition. The partition also carries a plurality of radial slits extending from the other of the faces only partway through the valve partition and intersecting the central aperture. The central aperture is of a diameter to closely fit a guidewire extending through the valve partition, while the radial slits have a length that is at least double the radius of the central aperture. The slits preferably rotate circumferentially about 5 to 60 degrees as they extend through the valve partition from one face toward the other. A lubricity enhancing additive is present, selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium dioxide, graphite, polyethylene wax, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof.

That which is claimed is: 
     
       1. A catheter which comprises a tubular catheter body having a proximal and a distal end, a housing carried on said proximal end, said housing carrying an elastomeric valve partition having a first face that faces the catheter distal end, and a second, opposed face, said valve partition being secured in said housing, said valve partition defining a central aperture extending inwardly from one of said faces and extending only part way through said valve partition, said valve partition also carrying a plurality of radial slits extending from the other of said faces only part way through said valve partition and intersecting said central aperture, said central aperture being of a diameter to closely fit a guidewire extending through said valve partition, said radial slits each having a length that is at least double the radius of said central aperture, said slits rotating circumferentially by about 5-60 degrees as said slits extend through said valve partition from one face toward the other. 
     
     
       2. The catheter of claim 1 in which said central aperture has a diameter of 0.02 to 0.04 inch. 
     
     
       3. The catheter of claim 2 in which said central aperture has a depth that is from about 100 to 200 percent of its diameter. 
     
     
       4. The catheter of claim 1 in which said central aperture has a depth that is from about 100 to 200 percent of its diameter. 
     
     
       5. The catheter of claim 1 in which said valve partition comprises from about 5 to 20 weight percent of a lubricity enhancing additive selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium dioxide, graphite, polyethylene wax, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       6. The catheter of claim 5 in which said valve partition comprises silicone rubber and has an elongation of at least 900. 
     
     
       7. The catheter of claim 6 in which said additive is bismuth oxychloride. 
     
     
       8. The catheter of claim 5 in which said valve partition comprises from about 5 to 15 weight percent of graphite. 
     
     
       9. The catheter of claim 8 in which said valve partition comprises silicone rubber having an elongation of at least 900. 
     
     
       10. The catheter of claim 1 in which said valve partition comprises silicone rubber having an elongation of at least 900. 
     
     
       11. the catheter of claim 1 in which said valve partition defines from 4 to 6 of said radial slits. 
     
     
       12. A catheter which comprises a tubular catheter body having a proximal end and a distal end, a housing carried on said proximal end, said housing carrying an elastomeric valve partition having a first face that faces the catheter distal end, and a second, opposed face, said valve partition being secured in said housing, said valve partition defining a central aperture extending inwardly from the second face, and extending only part way through said valve partition, said valve partition also carrying at least three radial slits extending from the first face only part way through said valve partition and intersecting said central aperture, said central aperture being of a diameter to closely fit a guidewire extending through said valve partition, said radial slits each having a length that is at least double the radius of said central aperture, and rotating circumferentially by about 5-60 degrees as said radial slits extend through said valve partition from one face toward the other, said valve partition comprising silicone rubber having an elongation of at least 900. 
     
     
       13. The catheter of claim 12 in which said valve partition comprises about 5 to 20 weight percent of a lubricity enhancing additive selected from the group consisting of bismuth oxychloride, polytetrafluoroethylene, titanium dioxide, polyethylene wax, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
       14. The catheter of claim 13 in which said additive is bismuth oxychloride. 
     
     
       15. The catheter of claim 12 in which said partition comprises a lubricity enhancing additive which comprises graphite present in a concentration of about 5 to 15 weight percent. 
     
     
       16. The catheter of claim 12 in which said valve partition defines from 4 to 6 of said radial slits.